Water Treatment in Charlottesville, Virginia — Upfront Pricing
Whatever’s going on with your water — hard water buildup, iron stains, chlorine taste, sulfur smell, or just not sure what’s off — we’ve been handling it in Charlottesville since 1960. Start with the on-site test. We’ll tell you exactly what your water needs and what it costs to fix.
Free on-site water test. We test hardness, iron, pH, chlorine, and more — then walk you through 2–3 real options with written pricing. No pressure.
Same Day Service Available — Call Today.
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Or call us now: (434) 505-4780
Otter Guys Plumbing was great to work with. Communication was clear from the start. When Ty and Don arrived, they were kind and easy to interact with. They took the time to communicate clearly through every step: diagnosing the problem, explaining what was going on, what the potential issues were, and what needed to happen moving forward. They educated us about the situation instead of just telling us what to do. Pricing was communicated clearly the whole way through. We were given all the pricing options, what they suggested, and why. Everything felt transparent and straightforward, and we didn’t feel pressured to do more than was necessary. I would absolutely recommend them.
Why Charlottesville chooses The Otter Guys
65+ years in Charlottesville and Central Virginia
Since 1960, we’ve handled water treatment for thousands of homes across Charlottesville, Crozet, Earlysville, Keswick, Free Union, Ivy, and surrounding counties. Well water, city water, everything in between.
Every option — softener, iron filter, RO, UV, whole-home
We install every kind of water treatment system — salt softeners, salt-free conditioners, iron filters, reverse osmosis, UV sterilization, and whole-home multi-stage setups. Whatever your water needs, we carry it.
In-house installers, not subcontractors
The same crew that installs your system services it and honors the warranty. The tech who ties into your main line is the one you call if anything needs attention later — we don’t hand you off to a third-party installer and disappear.
Extended Warranty Available
Up to 10-year coverage on qualifying systems
Licensed & Insured
VA License #2705181379
BBB A+ Rated
Accredited business
Charlottesville’s Finest
Gold Award 2023–2025
Common Central Virginia water issues we solve
Hard Water Buildup
White crust on fixtures, spotty dishes, dry skin. The most common water complaint in Central Virginia — and one of the most fixable.
Orange/Rust Stains
Iron rings in toilets, rust on laundry, reddish water. Common in Central Virginia wells; handled with the right iron filter.
Chlorine Taste or Smell
Pool-like smell from city water. A carbon filter at the point of entry or point of use removes it completely.
Rotten-Egg Smell
Sulfur odor (especially in hot water) is hydrogen sulfide — common in some Central Virginia wells. Air-injection or oxidation handles it.
Blue-Green Stains or Pinhole Leaks
Acidic water eating your copper plumbing. An acid neutralizer brings the pH up and protects your pipes.
Concerns About What’s in Your Drinking Water
PFAS, lead, nitrates, bacteria — if you’re worried about any of it, a reverse osmosis or UV system handles the point-of-use question.
Trusted by 6,000+ Charlottesville homeowners
“Malak was very knowledgeable and repaired my water heater very quickly. He even gave me a free water evaluation. Yikes! I had no idea that much chlorine and bacteria were in my water. The Otter Guys are the best.”Denise Dezio Google Review
“Malec was our tech. He was very thorough in his investigation to our water heater problem and water quality check. He respected our home and gave advice on what to expect next. Otter Guys offered us 4 solutions and Malec talked us through where it would be best to start to solve our situation and not just put a bandaid on it. I would highly recommend Otter Guys for their techs professionalism and timely service.”Luke Davies Google Review
“Really really great service. I felt seen and like they were going to make sure I was fully taken care of. I had been told they were a great experience, and now have my own story to back it up.”Christy Scott Google Review
Here’s exactly what happens when you call
Free on-site water test
A technician comes out and tests your water on-site — hardness, iron, pH, chlorine, and more as needed. Takes 15–30 minutes. You see the actual numbers from your own tap.
We show you 2–3 options with written pricing
Based on your water test results, household size, and whether it’s well or city water, we walk you through 2–3 system options with a written estimate for each — before you decide.
Install in 3–5 hours, cleaned up and pressure-tested
Most installs take 3–5 hours. We tie into your main water line, run any drain line needed, floor-protect the work area, and pressure-test every connection before we leave. Then a walk-through of your new system so you know exactly how it works.
Not Sure What Your Water Needs? We’ll Test It — Free.
Every Central Virginia home’s water is a little different. The free on-site test takes 30 minutes and costs nothing. We show you exactly what’s in your water and what will fix it. Written estimate. No pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cost depends on what your water needs — a single-stage softener is one number, a full well water setup (acid neutralizer + iron filter + softener + carbon) is another. After the free on-site test, we give you a written estimate with 2–3 options so you see the full cost before you decide.
Yes — for both Central Virginia city water and well water across Albemarle, Greene, Orange, Louisa, and the surrounding counties. Well water usually needs more stages; city water is typically simpler. We test first and match the system to what’s actually in your water.
Charlottesville, Crozet, Earlysville, Keswick, Ivy, Free Union, Waynesboro, Staunton, Culpeper, Lake Monticello, Lake Anna, Ruckersville, Madison, and all of Central Virginia.
Yes. We offer financing through multiple lenders (soft credit pull for pre-qualification; hard pull only at final approval). Most homeowners who finance land in the $40–$90/month range depending on the system.
Most installs are single-day jobs — 3–6 hours for single-stage systems (softener, iron filter, carbon), 6–8 hours for multi-stage well setups. Main water supply is off for 60–90 minutes during the tie-in.
Yes. We service every major water treatment brand — softeners, iron filters, RO systems, UV sterilizers. If you bought it elsewhere and need a repair, tune-up, or replacement, we can work on it.
Whatever your water is doing — we’ve seen it before. Thousands of water treatment systems installed across Central Virginia since 1960. Start with the free on-site test, see your actual numbers, and go from there.